Today's Transportation Pulse
Hormuz minesweeping could delay oil flow for weeks
A preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz includes a minesweeping phase that may take 40‑50 days, using conventional minesweepers and advanced underwater drones to locate up to 1,000 Iranian naval mines. The delay could hold tens of millions of barrels of oil, while daily vessel traffic remains at 12‑15 ships.
Also developing:
Over 1,200 New EV Charging Stalls Deployed By EVgo In 2025
EVgo announced it installed more than 1,200 new fast‑charging stalls in 2025, expanding its U.S. network to 5,100 stalls across 47 states. The company recorded a 366 GWh public‑network throughput, surpassed 1.6 million customer accounts, and generated $384 million in revenue, a 50% year‑over‑year increase. EVgo highlighted its focus on high‑traffic retail and urban sites and plans to scale NACS connectors. The rollout underscores rapid private‑sector growth in EV infrastructure despite broader market headwinds.
The '80s Car Feature That Would Fit Perfectly In The AI Hellscape Of Today
Chrysler’s 1983 Electronic Voice Alert (EVA) was an early in‑car voice system that announced door, seatbelt and fuel status with pre‑recorded messages. Today’s AI‑driven Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) echo that concept, delivering real‑time alerts that many drivers find intrusive....
INTERVIEW: Armir Harris, Founder & CEO, CharterUP
CharterUP, the largest group‑transportation marketplace in North America, has teamed up with autonomous‑technology firm Holon to embed self‑driving shuttles into its AI‑enabled platform. The partnership will roll out Holon’s integrated autonomous mobility solution across campuses, airports, transit agencies and private...
Iran Says Hormuz Open To All But ‘Enemy-Linked’ Ships
Iran’s UN maritime representative Ali Mousavi announced that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all vessels except those linked to “Iran’s enemies.” The statement follows a U.S. warning that Tehran’s power plants could be targeted if the strait is...
VinFast Hasn’t Given Up On Its US Ambitions — Despite Delays, Betting On Long-Term Strategy
VinFast announced it will resume construction of its North Carolina EV factory in April 2026, shifting the project to a phased, lower‑cost model. The plant’s footprint and workforce have been cut to roughly 780,000 square feet and 1,400 employees, with...
BAE Partners Brazil Firm on Vehicle Components
BAE Systems Hägglunds has launched a pilot partnership with Brazil’s Knightec Group to develop military vehicle components in Resende, Rio de Janeiro. The collaboration will initially produce conceptual designs for gear housings for the BvS10 all‑terrain vehicle, targeting lower costs...
I Rode the Xiaomi Electric Scooter 6 Ultra, and It Gives Segway and Apollo a Run for Their Money
Xiaomi unveiled its sixth‑generation scooter line at MWC, featuring five models, with the flagship Scooter 6 Ultra positioned as an off‑road, high‑performance option. The Ultra packs a 500 W motor, 1,200 W peak output, 12‑inch all‑terrain tyres, dual swing‑arm suspension, and a 585 Wh battery...
Silver Lining: Honda’s EV Retreat Proves Trump’s Bully Pulpit Has Become Irrelevant
Honda announced a $15.8 billion withdrawal from three U.S. electric‑vehicle programs, directly blaming recent tariff hikes and the rollback of federal EV tax credits. The company’s CEO and top executives accepted significant pay cuts to share the financial pain. Honda’s blunt...
Poland Marks First Flights of ZEUS Unmanned Aircraft
Poland’s Ekolot Aerospace & Defense completed the inaugural test flights of its ZEUS unmanned aircraft, demonstrating stable, autonomous operation in conventional take‑off and landing (CTOL) mode. The modular platform, developed with Spain’s UAV Navigation‑Grupo Oesía, can be reconfigured for VTOL...
One Overheated Circuit Board Grounded 5 D.C.-Area Airports — After FAA Dropped Maintenance On Old Systems
On March 13 the FAA halted flights at Washington National, Dulles, Baltimore, Andrews and Richmond for about two and a half hours after a strong chemical odor forced the evacuation of the Potomac TRACON. The smell originated from an overheating circuit...
Lloyd’s Register Partners with Echo Marine Group to Deliver Electric Ferry Fleet
Lloyd’s Register has entered a partnership with Echo Marine Group to certify the design and construction of five battery‑electric passenger ferries for Perth’s Swan River, creating Western Australia’s first fully electric ferry fleet. The vessels are part of the METRONET...
When Your Toyota GR86 Engine Blows After 17,000 Miles of Hard Use, You Swap in Something Else
A 2023 Toyota GR86 spent 17,000 miles exclusively on the track before its Subaru‑sourced FA24 engine failed due to a broken harmonic balancer. The owner replaced the damaged unit with a Honda K24A2 inline‑four using a KPower kit, boosting output...
Babcock Wins MOD Vehicle Fleet Contract
Babcock has secured a five‑year, £60 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to manage its white fleet of non‑combat vehicles. Named Phoenix 3, the deal continues the work begun under Phoenix 2 and includes options to extend for another five years....
Fast Flop: Stupid Fast Audi RS E-Tron GT Gets over $50,000 in Discounts
Audi’s 2025 RS e‑tron GT, a 1,000‑horsepower electric sedan that sprints from 0‑60 mph in 2.4 seconds, is now being offered with a $54,005 discount at Audi Las Vegas. The price drop brings the $178,595 sticker down to under $125,000 after...
Guangdong University Starts Recruiting Drive for Advanced Air Mobility Market and Legal Students
On March 20, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, the Guangzhou Baiyun District Government and eVTOL pioneer EHang launched a joint talent training base on the university campus. The initiative shifts focus from pure engineering to market and legal expertise needed...
California's Anti‑refinery Stance Threatens Pacific Military Fuel Security
I’ve been accused of being too soft on @SecWar. Fine. Problem is his performance has been exceptional. But here’s where I’m livid: no serious DoW pressure on Newsom and the California Coastal Commission which are both getting massive support from China. Oil...
Kazakhstan’s Alatau New City “Preparing for Joby and AutoFlight Air Taxi Services”
Kazakhstan’s Alatau new city is building a low‑altitude economy and will become the first location outside China to test long‑range electric air taxis above 120 metres. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev announced signed agreements with U.S.‑based Joby Aero and China’s...
GXO and Hasbro Inaugurate Distribution Centre in Georgia
GXO Logistics and Hasbro have opened a 600,000‑square‑foot flagship distribution centre in Midway, Georgia, expanding Hasbro’s omni‑channel capabilities across North America. The hub supports both brick‑and‑mortar retail partners and the Hasbro Pulse direct‑to‑consumer platform, creating up to 70 permanent and...
MODEX 2026 Preview: AI, Robotics & Supply Chain Innovation Take Center Stage
MODEX 2026, scheduled for April 13‑16 at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center, will host over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 200 free educational sessions focused on AI, robotics, and supply‑chain digital transformation. The agenda features high‑profile keynote speakers such as...
Borderlands Mexico: Court Ruling on Tariffs Sets Off Refund Scramble, Legal Uncertainty
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, overturning a key tool used to target imports linked to fentanyl, migration and other concerns. The decision opens the door to potentially $166 billion in refunds...
Camera‑only Vision Outperforms LiDAR in Night Driving
This is how a CEO loses credibility with me. Cofounder of @NuroAi_Official A is making an AI that can drive vehicles, was winning me over through demonstrations of his more flexible AI than Tesla has demonstrated. Drove in left-hand Japan with...
Elon Musk Pledges $10,000 Monthly Pay to TSA Agents Amid Government Shutdown
Elon Musk announced he will fund TSA agents’ salaries at $10,000 a month per employee, a $600 million monthly commitment, as a Democratic‑led shutdown stalls federal payroll. The offer pits private money against congressional budget authority and raises questions about the...
Sidra Line to Launch Algerian Express Service
Sidra Line announced the launch of Algerian Express, a new maritime service linking Spain and Algeria. The fortnightly route will operate a multipurpose vessel capable of carrying both containerized and general cargo. Ports of call include Sagunto and Alicante in...
Escaping the Car Setup Maze
The post highlights how car‑setup changes in racing simulators create cascading effects, making the process feel overwhelming. It contrasts real‑world theory with simulation‑specific tricks, noting that high rear wings allow more rake and that softer springs improve mechanical grip without...
Axis Bank Ties Up with Tesla to Offer Tailored EV Financing Solutions in India
Axis Bank has entered a strategic partnership with Tesla to become the automaker’s preferred financier in India. The collaboration offers fully digital auto‑loan products with ten‑year tenures and flexible repayment structures, aiming to simplify the purchase journey for premium electric‑vehicle...
Hormuz and Malacca Move Over 40% of Global Oil
The Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca combined handle more than 40% of all maritime oil trade. Source: Vizualytiks https://www.voronoiapp.com/trade/How-is-Oil-Transported-Globally-7879
Port of NY/NJ Plans Replacement of Ageing Fare Gates
The Port Authority approved $3.5 million to start planning replacement of fare gates at all 13 PATH stations. The existing 22‑year‑old gates have outlived their 15‑20 year design life, causing breakdowns, higher maintenance costs, and increased fare evasion. The project, slated...
Delivery Drones Cleared for Flight over Populated Cities in Brazil
Brazil’s civil aviation authority (ANAC) approved a national framework allowing beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) delivery drones to operate over densely populated areas. The rule lets Speedbird Aero’s DLV‑2 A25 fly over zones with up to 5,000 people per square kilometre and the...
Iran Rakes $2.5B From Oil Amid War
Aside the relaxation of US sanctions on Iranian oil, for Tehran the big win is the fact that >20 days into the war, it’s still exporting oil via Hormuz. At ~1.5m b/d (and assuming $85 a barrel) that’s a ~$2.5...
Skoda Auto India Eyeing up to 12% Sales Growth in 2026: Company Official
Skoda Auto India is targeting 10‑12% sales growth in 2026, building on a near‑100% increase that delivered about 72,000 units in 2025. The plan hinges on ten product actions, including new variants of the Kushaq, Kylaq, Kodiaq and a facelift...
SBB Finalises Construction Schedule for Zürich - Winterthur Expansion
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has finalized the construction timetable for its SFr 3.3 bn Zürich‑Winterthur line upgrade, expanding the corridor to four tracks and adding a new 9 km Brüttener Tunnel. Tunnel excavation will begin in 2029 with commissioning targeted for 2037, while...
British Airways Ordeal: Passengers Spend 13 Hours With Deceased Flier In Heated Galley
British Airways flight BA32 from Hong Kong to London experienced a passenger death an hour after take‑off. The 60‑year‑old woman’s body was moved to the rear galley, where a heated floor generated odor complaints during the 13‑hour flight. The crew elected...
Estonia to Develop Unified Public Transport Ticketing Data Platform
Estonia has chosen Tartu‑based travel tech firm Turnit to build a prototype unified public‑transport ticketing data platform, part of the government’s MaaS X‑tee initiative. The system will consolidate trains, buses, trams, ferries, flights, micromobility and car‑rental services into a single...
Germany Launches Four-Year, Income‑targeted BEV Subsidy Plan
Germany sets four-year BEV support for 2026–29 with income-based subsidies, plug-in limits, and a €3bn cap. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/germany-sets-four-year-bev-support-for.html
200,000 U.S. Truckers Face CDL Loss Under New Rules
"Up to 200,000 drivers, approximately 5% of the entire U.S. truck driver workforce, could lose CDL eligibility as licenses expire under the new framework. The press covered it as an immigration story. That is the least interesting part of it"...
JSW MG Motor India Looks to Leverage on Non-Metros to Accelerate Sales of EV Windsor
JSW MG Motor India reports that 70% of its best‑selling EV, the Windsor, is sold in non‑metro markets, bringing cumulative sales to about 65,000 units since its October 2024 launch. The company’s 541 sales‑and‑service outlets, only 51 of which are in...
Satellite Shows Iran Exporting Oil with US Backing
Iran’s Kharg Island as seen **today** by the @CopernicusEU Sentinel-2 satellite. Iran is loading multiple tankers, exporting oil and making $$$ — now, with the help of the White House. The idea that Trump admin is using Iranian oil barrels...
Neglected FAA Maintenance Grounds Five D.C. Airports
One Overheated Circuit Board Grounded 5 D.C.-Area Airports — After FAA Dropped Maintenance On Old Systems - View from the Wing https://t.co/pDNl8gYFgu
FlightPath3D Now Standard on Every Textron Citation
FlightPath3D’s strategic expansion into business aviation is paying off. Less than 12 months ago, the aviation map-maker hit the 2,500-#BizAv tail mark. Now it reveals it has been linefit "for years" on every Textron Citation that comes out of the...
California's Gas Supply Depends on Asian Petroleum Imports
What if Asia gets worried and stops sending petroleum to California. (Where did you think Californians get their gas since @GavinNewsom started closing oil refineries?)
Naval Ship Shortage Roots Predate Trump, Not Just His Fault
“Yes we have fewer ships. Well we also have fewer horses and bayonets.” Everyone’s blaming Trump for not having enough Navy ships available to escort supertankers. But ask the real question: did this hull shortage start with Trump?
Even in Long TSA Lines, Civility Prevails
Seeing lots of videos circulating about long TSA lines. What strikes me is how civil everyone is.
Progress MS-33 Antenna Failure Forces Manual TORU Docking
One of the rendezvous antennas aboard Progress MS-33 failed to deploy, likely prompting the use of the TORU manual-control by the ISS crew to guide the cargo ship to docking... https://t.co/snqlHtWeDl
Trucking Spot Rates Surge Amid Tight Capacity
New day, new cycle high. National trucking spot rates up to $2.89/mile. +$.11/mile in the past week. Spiking demand + tightening capacity will keep new entrants from ruining the party. https://t.co/By2VKHcsO8
Self‑Driving Cars Lead Physical AI’s First Mass Adoption
Buckle up. The first wave of physical AI mass adoption will be self-driving cars. The evidence: Tesla’s FSD is making major gains, and Waymo is going from 6 cities at the end of 2025 to likely 25 by the end...
United Installs, Then Locks Doors on New Suites
United Added Doors To Its New Business Class Suites — Then Locked Them Shut [Roundup] - View from the Wing https://t.co/yOXGBXhsGE
Tanker Rarity Anchors Amid US‑Israeli‑Iran Tensions
The tanker RARITY sits at anchor as lightning flashes in the distance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, off Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas https://t.co/NOCb6qvWgC
Wrangler vs Jimny: Choose Your Off‑Road Fighter
Full-size Wrangler and fun-size Jimny. Pick your fighter. 🥊 Out on the lanes this morning. https://t.co/MJaZK2CXqe
China's AI Car Inspection Checks 1,000 Functions in 3 Hours
🇨🇳 China's AI powered car inspection system scans through over 1,000 functions in just 3 hours #carinspection #artificialintelligence #AI #AIautomation #automation @PawlowskiMario @chidambara09 @Ym78200 @CurieuxExplorer @efipm @bigfundu @sayedflah @Ronald_vanLoon @cyngn @belindabeibi @odisseiaalfa @DigitalColmer @MyCompanionsAI @KirkDBorne @patricegorissen @jeffkagan @EdwardKens50830 @enilev @insom_ai333 @ChrisCCrowley @sallyeaves...
EV Deals Shine Where Electricity Is Cheap
MyPoV: doesn’t make sense in states with high electric costs. For those with low kw/h rates it’s a bargain. Sick of High Gas Prices? EV Deals Are Everywhere Right Now https://t.co/eTqj2RxaPI